Ruto Breaks New Ground with First-Ever State House Forum for 10,000 Teachers
President William Ruto on Saturday made history by hosting 10,000 teachers at State House, Nairobi, in what was billed as the first-ever consultative dialogue between the Head of State and educators at the nation’s highest office.
Dubbed the Walimu na Rais Forum, the event drew delegates from all corners of the country representing leading teachers’ unions and associations, including the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET), Kenya Union of Special Needs Education Teachers (KUSNET), Kenya Primary School Heads Association (KEPSHA), and Kenya Secondary School Heads Association (KESSHA).
Speaking at the gathering, President Ruto lauded teachers for their central role in nation-building, stressing that the forum was not political but a national conversation on education and the future of Kenyan children. “Teachers carry the great responsibility of educating our children, yet they have never had a chance to come to State House. Today marks a new beginning,” he said.
Among the key outcomes was a pledge to reserve 20 percent of Affordable Housing units for teachers, a move Ruto said was justified given that educators contribute 13 percent of the housing levy about Ksh.900 million monthly. An MoU between government and union representatives will formalize the arrangement.
Teachers also secured a commitment to overhaul their medical scheme, which the President described as expensive and offering poor value compared to civil servants’ cover. He directed the Ministry of Education to urgently work with health experts and union leaders to design a fairer, more effective package.
In a major boost for career growth, Ruto announced the doubling of the teachers’ promotion budget from Ksh.1 billion to Ksh.2 billion annually beginning next financial year. This will enable 50,000 teachers to be promoted each year, up from 25,000, addressing widespread stagnation across job groups.
Educators further used the platform to raise concerns on recognition of junior secondary school heads as principals, a review of career progression guidelines, and adjustments to the July CBA to allow pay reviews every two years.
Beyond welfare, the forum also discussed reforms around Competency-Based Education and digital learning. Education leaders hailed the gathering as a turning point, noting it offered not only immediate gains but also a new era of collaboration between government and teachers in shaping Kenya’s education future.
